YONKERS, NY — May 8, 2018 — Yonkers Board of Education Trustee and attorney Nader Sayegh announced today his intent to run for the 90th District in the New York State Assembly to fill the vacancy upon by Shelley Mayer’s accession to New York State Senate District 37

“Senator Mayer leaves big boots to fill; she was a remarkable Assembly Member and will be an equally effective Senator,” said Sayegh. “My intention is to continue what she started and to add to it. The 90th District, which encompasses the vast majority of Yonkers, has an immediate need for investment in job growth, infrastructure, and education, all of which deeply impact the middle class,” Sayegh continued. “I am running because we in Yonkers need steadfast leadership in today’s volatile times.”

Dr. Sayegh has one of the most expansive professional careers of any candidate to run in recent memory. He has fought for educational opportunities and equitable services for nearly 45 years, in the process serving as a teacher, principal, and college professor, in addition to running a successful law practice. He has been the President of the Board of Trustees of Yonkers Public Schools, President of the “Big 5” School Boards of New York, trustee of the Yonkers General Hospital, and Chairman of the Yonkers Parking Authority. He has also served as a captain in the New York State Guard.

As an Assembly Member, Sayegh intends to focus immediately on three critical priorities. First, to ensure that Yonkers Public Schools receives the share state funding it is entitled to and deserves. Another is reducing the tax burden for middle-class taxpayers, which went all but untouched by the recent tax cuts. The third is to grow economic opportunity and security within the 90th Assembly District, and ensure that Yonkers and Westchester are a place where families can stay and succeed.

In addition to his professional responsibilities, Sayegh is an expert lecturer on topics such as School District agreements, immigration, safety and security, special education, and adult and alternative education. He lives with his wife of 34 years, who together have raised five daughters who all attended public schools and now have careers in medicine, education, and dentistry.

“We face formidable challenges here in New York, challenges that cannot be put off any longer,” said Sayegh. “People who are struggling don’t care about Republican or Democrat — they want solutions. I’m not a professional politician, but I know we need an Assemblyman who will work with the governor and our state delegation to put our economy back on the right footing, ensure opportunities and solid education for our children, and at the same time fix the way Albany operates. The time for partisan bickering and political games is over – the stakes are too high.”

“I look forward to a positive campaign and spirited debate focused on the issues of how to get Yonkers on the track we know it can, and should, be,” said Sayegh.

Comments 13

Nader Sayegh is truly a candidate that’s more than qualified for the position, and has given endless nights, endless days away from his wife and children to better Yonkers. All the while without taking a single penny of profit of his own! He’s aces in my book and has my full support, go get em Nader!

“As an Assembly Member, Sayegh intends to focus immediately on three critical priorities. First, to ensure that Yonkers Public Schools receives the share state funding it is entitled to and deserves.”

Ah, yes, the “throw as much money at the problem as you can” approach. The only problem is that it never works. And, in Yonkers, that money disappears faster than you
can say SpaNO.

“Another is reducing the tax burden for middle-class taxpayers, which went all but untouched by the recent tax cuts.”

Great, cut taxes in a city that already has a substantial budget deficit. How does the good “Dr” plan to make up that lost tax revenue? Tax the wealthy? There aren’t too many of them in Yonkers. Tax the poor? Impossible. Tax business? Bad idea.

“The third is to grow economic opportunity and security within the 90th Assembly District, and ensure that Yonkers and Westchester are a place where families can stay and succeed.”

What does “to grow economic opportunity” even mean? It’s so devoid of specifics as to be utterly meaningless. Furthermore, it’s laughable that someone who has never created a job in his life now talks about “growing economic opportunity.”

Third-rate driftwood like Sayegh should just quietly float into retirement.